The Daily Mail to pay 'substantial' damages to Susan Boyle's former manager

The publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, has agreed to pay "substantial" damages to the former manager of Scots singer Susan Boyle over an article that falsely suggested he had lied about the Britain's Got Talent finalist's finances.

According to a report on The Guardian’s media website, the former manager, Osmond Kilkenny, said the article published on March 27, 2010 caused him "acute distress and anxiety".

The article, which was later removed from the Daily Mail's website, was headlined "Family at war over SuBo's millions".

It suggested that because of doubts over his trustworthiness Kilkenny was unsuitable or unfit to handle Boyle's affairs.

The Daily Mail has now accepted this was untrue and apologised to Kilkenny. Associated Newspapers has agreed to pay him substantial damages plus legal costs.

Nicholas Armstrong, of the solicitor's firm Charles Russell LLP, acting for Kilkenny, told the High Court in London on Wednesday the allegations were "an unwarranted slur on his character and professional reputation”.